MONONA GROVE 6 (OT) vs USM 5
Despite being out shot 34-19, Monona Grove made the most of its opportunities and defeated University School 6-5 in overtime Tuesday night at University School.
USM took an early lead. Junior Simon Leahy got the puck in the Monona Grove corner and passed it to senior Alex Tesensky along the left boards. Tesensky quickly lined a pass to senior defenseman Charlie James at the center of the blue line. James wound up and let loose a slap shot that made it through a screen in front of Monona Grove’s junior goalie Christian Burk for a goal at 3:33 of the first period.
Monona Grove tied it up at 11:54 of the first period. The Silver Eagles put forechecking pressure on the Wildcats and forced a loose puck to bounce into the slot. Junior Trevor Okeson snared it, whirled and fired a quick shot that made it through a screen and past USM’s senior goaltender Dan Smyczek.
Monona Grove went ahead on only their third shot of the same period. Off a face off in the Monona Grove end, junior Dylan Zink got the puck and wired it to the far boards in center ice to classmate Connor Johnson who had sprinted out of the zone like a racehorse from the starting gate. Johnston sped across the blue line on a break away and blazed a shot from the mid boards that surprised Smyczek and gave the Silver Eagles a 2-1 lead at 14:08.
Monona Grove increased its lead on a power play early in the second period. Senior Russell Blaser took a shot from the right boards that went wide behind the net. The puck bounced out front and senior Jered Lex, who had moved in behind the USM defense, snapped it in at 5:43.
The Silver Eagles got the next goal as well. In center ice, Okeson sent a pass to Zink who then gunned a long pass to Johnston who was moving into the USM zone. Johnston swept in and pushed the puck through Smyczek’s five hole at 9:58.
Things looked downright dreary for the USM at that point. But the Wildcats had been firing pucks at Burk all night, and they knew that if they kept at it, the tide would eventually turn and sweep them toward a sweeter, more solid shore.
USM made it 4-2 during a 5 on 3 power play late in the second period. Leahy got the puck on the sideboards and sent it to sophomore Nathan Burke at the point. Burke blasted a shot off Burk’s pads, and sophomore Ashton Wackym lifted the rebound over the sprawling goalie at 16:16.
USM made good on another power play opportunity early in the third period. Junior Aaron Storch got the puck deep in the Monona Grove zone and sent it to Tesensky at the point. Tesensky walked it across the blue line and lazered a slap shot through a tight screen at 3:38.
The scored stayed at 4-3 until the last three minutes of the third period when the game became truly thrilling. Monona Grove made it look like it had sewn the game up with a thick needle when they scored their fifth goal on a power play. Once again Johnston outmaneuvered the USM defenders down low, got his stick on a rebound, and knocked it home. Zink and Okeson had assists on the play.
USM raised the home fans’ hopes in the last minute. Skating like souls trying to exorcize demons, the Wildcats put extensive pressure on the Silver Eagles in the Monona Grove end forcing the Silver Eagles to loose control of the puck. Tesensky intercepted a clearing pass in the left circle, skated it toward the net, and lofted a shot over Burk’s glove to make it 5-4 with 51 seconds left.
Following the center face off, USM quickly got control of the puck in the Monona Grove end. USM pulled Smyczek for a sixth skater, Ian Palin. Palin immediately headed to the low slot and took away Burk’s ability to see the puck, which had gone to the point to James. James ripped a slap shot that zoomed in high on the stick side with just 11 ticks left on the clock.
Two goals in the final minute brought the relieved, but faithful, home crowd to their feet and sent the game to overtime. In OT, Monona Grove won the opening face off and immediately shot the puck deep into the USM end. The Wildcat defensemen attempted to clear the puck, but Blaser got it and passed it to Johnston who fired a shot from the right circle. The rebound bounced to the left to Okeson who one-timed it in for the game winner at 0:25 of the overtime peiod.
In the game Burk had 29 saves. Smyzcek turned aside 13 of Monona Grove’s 19 shots on net.
Now 8-4, Monona Grove travels to Oregon for a 7:00 game on Friday, January 8. USM also plays a 7:00 game Friday in the opening round of the Paul Meyer Memorial Tournament at USM.